Got a green idea? Then join the grab for cash

The Rudd Government today announced that the $75 million Climate Ready program is open for applications. Applicants can apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $5 million. The grants will support Australian businesses developing new products, processes a

The Rudd Government today announced that the $75 million Climate Ready program is open for applications.

Applicants can apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $5 million. The grants will support Australian businesses developing new products, processes and services to tackle climate change.

It will provide dollar-for-dollar support for research and development, proof-of-concept and early-stage commercialisation activities.

The $75 million Climate Ready program is part of $240 million in funds announced in the May budget to help Australian businesses go greener. The biggest share of the green business fund will go to establish a Green Building Fund, worth $90 million over four years, under which business can claim subsidies of up to $200,000 to subsidise work to improve the energy efficiency of office buildings.

It was one of the few pieces of positive news out of the budget for the small and medium sector, slugged with $1 billion of cuts including the abolition of the Commercial Ready Program.

The Climate Ready program offers small grants ($50,000 to $500,000) and large grants ($500,001 to $5 million). The small grants support small business, as well as companies controlled by universities and public sector research organisations, by having a simple application form and reduced reporting requirements.

“A huge global market is developing for clean and green technologies. Australian industry has the creativity and drive to deliver to world markets in this area,” Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr says.

“Innovative products and processes that help tackle global warming can also create high-wage, high-skill jobs for the future, which is in all our interests,” Carr says.

A broad range of project applications are expected. For example:

• Water recycling, waste recovery or small scale renewable energy technologies.
• Technologies that reduce the energy used by appliances or increase the efficiency of industrial processes.
• Products, processes or services to monitor emissions or power usage.
• Using biotechnology or nanotechnology to address the effects of climate change on humans and the environment.
• Information systems for businesses or consumers to compare the carbon footprints of different activities.
• Green building materials that make homes more energy efficient.

The closing date for the first round is 4 September.

See the Climate Ready fact sheet.

Related stories:

• Dollars flow to green business
• Business rocked by Commercial Ready cut

Feedback: Is this a good idea? Is it more benefit in keeping the Commercial Ready program? Have your say.